How many times to feed my puppy a day?

Question

How many times should a puppy be fed a day?

Currently he eats twice, in the morning and evening.

He poops 3-4 times a day and he does get a little bit of treats during training. So maybe like 10 tiny pieces of dog jerky.

Can I feed him just once in the afternoon. Then at night I do the tiny treats but just skip the morning?

He eats so little each time anyways. I am thinking he will eat more if fed once. He's a 3 month old Maltese/Shihtzu. He probably eats like litterally 15 little kiblets of his food.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi, as he only has a little tummy & he is a baby still, then I'd keep up the two feeds a day.

In fact, I'm surprised that he is only on two feeds a day - normally little pups get fed more often (it's usual to get a diet sheet from your puppies breeder & advice on what & when to feed) - at least three times a day until they are about six months old. They need lots of food to help them grow but their tummies can only take so much at a time. Also puppy kibble is probably better for him than filling up on beef jerky. (Couldn't you use that in training?)

I still feed my setter twice a day & she's five years old. I've read that it's better for them & big, deep chested dogs can sometimes suffer from 'bloat' & so two smaller meals is generally recommended.

Why not send away for a free Pedigree Chum Puppy Pack? (it's free if you're in the UK) There's money off coupons, free postcards & lots of information on raising a puppy.
http://www.uk.pedigree.com/puppypack/index.asp?s=google2007

Bakers also give free information & downloads on their site:
http://www.bakerscomplete.co.uk/puppy/puppy_index.asp

It's quite possible that if you search on the manufacturer of your puppies food that you may find that they offer something free.

But please, please, feed your little one more than once a day.

Answer 2

If you ask me i think that, that is plenty of dog food a day. Your puppy's first few meals at home are very important. Find out what food your pup has been eating and continue feeding this food for a day or two after you have taken them home. If you want to change his diet to a premium nutrition, then do it gradually, over a period of a week or two. Mix increasing proportions of the new food with the old to make the transition easy on your puppy's digestive system. High quality complete dry dog food is not only healthier for your dog, it also yields much smaller and tidier poop piles. Hope this helps:) Good luck.

Answer 3

I am amazed that anyone sold you a pup, with so little research done regarding it's needs. You are not doing him favours by feeding treats instead of high nutrient, high quality puppy food. The STANDARD veterinary rule of thumb is 4 meals a day until 16 weeks old. Your poor, poor puppy! You want to feed him just once a day? God, I'd really like to be in charge of your feeding, and see how well you do. When the pup reaches 16 weeks, you can reduce to 3 meals a day, but still give the same quantity. At 6 months you can reduce to 2 meals a day. Most toy breeds, such as yours, are never reduced to one meal a day at a year old, like the large breeds. He WON'T eat more food if fed once, his tummy is not big enough. Feeing MORE often, and little amounts is what the poor little lad needs. I am fuming at your ignorance, what you want to do amounts to neglect.